U.S. patent application number 17/222635 was filed with the patent office on 2022-09-29 for method and system for identifying and quantifying organizational waste.
This patent application is currently assigned to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.. The applicant listed for this patent is JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.. Invention is credited to Raji Reddy ANKILLA, Naga Manjula BHARATULA, Veerendra Chowdary KURRA, Neel Kamal PASI, Venkat Kalyan SOLASA, Anilkumar SUDAM.
Application Number | 20220309423 17/222635 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005511225 |
Filed Date | 2022-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220309423 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BHARATULA; Naga Manjula ; et
al. |
September 29, 2022 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING AND QUANTIFYING ORGANIZATIONAL
WASTE
Abstract
A method for identifying, quantifying, classifying, and reducing
resource waste in an organization is provided. The method includes:
receiving a request from a user for identifying waste in a first
software development project; identifying a set of tasks to be
performed within the first software development project;
determining, for each task, whether a waste of a resource such as
cost and/or time has occurred; using Jira to tag each task for
which a waste has been identified; and generating a report that
indicates a result of the determination. The resulting report may
be used to pinpoint a friction point within the organization.
Inventors: |
BHARATULA; Naga Manjula;
(Hyderabad, IN) ; SOLASA; Venkat Kalyan;
(Hyderabad, IN) ; SUDAM; Anilkumar; (Hyderabad,
IN) ; KURRA; Veerendra Chowdary; (Hyderabad, IN)
; PASI; Neel Kamal; (Hyderabad, IN) ; ANKILLA;
Raji Reddy; (Secunderabad, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
1000005511225 |
Appl. No.: |
17/222635 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/06313 20130101;
G06Q 10/06312 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/06 20120101
G06Q010/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 19, 2021 |
IN |
202111007069 |
Claims
1. A method for reducing resource waste in an organization, the
method being implemented by at least one processor, the method
comprising: receiving, by the at least one processor from a user, a
request for identifying waste in a first software development
project; identifying, by the at least one processor using a
software application, a plurality of tasks to be performed within
the first software development project; determining, for each task
from among the identified plurality of tasks by the at least one
processor, whether a waste of at least one resource has occurred;
providing, for each of the plurality of tasks, an electronic tag,
the electronic tag including a predetermined data structure, the
predetermined data structure including a plurality of fields, at
least one of the plurality of fields indicating the waste of the at
least one resource, an entry for each of the plurality of fields
being selected from a predefined set of codes; generating, by the
at least one processor, a report that indicates a result of the
determining and the providing; and transmitting, by the at least
one processor, the generated report to the user.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one resource
includes at least one from among a cost, an amount of time spent by
a person, and an amount of effort exerted by the person.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one resource
includes a number of hours spent by the person on each task.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining comprises
determining a planned amount of the at least one resource that is
expected to be expended for each task, and determining an actual
amount of the at least one resource that has been expended.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein when the actual amount of the at
least one resource that has been expended exceeds the planned
amount of the at least one resource that is expected to be
expended, the report includes information indicating a wastage
amount that corresponds to a difference between the actual amount
and the planned amount and an identification of the person that
corresponds to the wastage amount.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the plurality
of tasks comprises using an issue tracking tool, as the software
application, to identify the plurality of tasks.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising using the issue
tracking tool to provide the electronic tag for each identified
task based on a result of the determining.
8. The method of claim 6, further comprising using the issue
tracking tool to provide the electronic tag for each identified
task for which the waste of the at least one resource is determined
as having occurred.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the using of the issue tracking
tool to provide the electronic tag comprises tagging each
identified task for which the waste of the at least one resource is
determined as having occurred with a keyword from among a
predetermined plurality of keywords.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying at least
one friction point that corresponds to an aspect of the
organization associated with excessive waste based on information
included in the generated report.
11. A computing apparatus for reducing resource waste in an
organization, the computing apparatus comprising: a processor; a
memory; and a communication interface coupled to each of the
processor and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
receive, via the communication interface from a user, a request for
identifying waste in a first software development project;
identify, using a software application, a plurality of tasks to be
performed within the first software development project; determine,
for each task from among the identified plurality of tasks, whether
a waste of at least one resource has occurred; provide, for each of
the plurality of tasks, an electronic tag, the electronic tag
including a predetermined data structure, the predetermined data
structure including a plurality of fields, at least one of the
plurality of fields indicating the waste of the at least one
resource, an entry for each of the plurality of fields being
selected from a predefined set of codes; generate a report that
indicates a result of the determine and the provide; and transmit,
via the communication interface, the generated report to the
user.
12. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one
resource includes at least one from among a cost, an amount of time
spent by a person, and an amount of effort exerted by the
person.
13. The computing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one
resource includes a number of hours spent by the person on each
task.
14. The computing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is
further configured to determine a planned amount of the at least
one resource that is expected to be expended for each task, and to
determine an actual amount of the at least one resource that has
been expended.
15. The computing apparatus of claim 14, wherein when the actual
amount of the at least one resource that has been expended exceeds
the planned amount of the at least one resource that is expected to
be expended, the report includes information indicating a wastage
amount that corresponds to a difference between the actual amount
and the planned amount and an identification of the person that
corresponds to the wastage amount.
16. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is
further configured to use an issue tracking tool, as the software
application, to identify the plurality of tasks.
17. The computing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is
further configured to use the issue tracking tool to provide the
electronic tag for each identified task based on a result of the
determining.
18. The computing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is
further configured to use the issue tracking tool to provide the
electronic tag for each identified task for which the waste of the
at least one resource is determined as having occurred.
19. The computing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is
further configured to provide the electronic tag for each
identified task for which the waste of the at least one resource is
determined as having occurred with a keyword from among a
predetermined plurality of keywords.
20. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is
further configured to identify at least one friction point that
corresponds to an aspect of the organization associated with
excessive waste based on information included in the generated
report.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority benefit from Indian
Application No. 202111007069, filed Feb. 19, 2021, which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
Field of the Disclosure
[0002] This technology generally relates to methods and systems for
detecting and quantifying organizational waste, and more
particularly to methods and systems for identifying, quantifying,
classifying, and reducing organizational waste in real time.
Background Information
[0003] Engineers and computer programmers frequently endeavor to
develop software for various purposes. In a large organization,
engineers often work on projects that interact with existing
software suites and with other ongoing projects. As a result, there
is a waste of resources that arises due to interdependencies and
follow-ups that engineers encounter during the development life
cycle.
[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for a mechanism to identify,
classify, and quantify wastages of time, money, and effort in a
software development life cycle, and to radiate the gravity of
friction points across an organization in order to efficiently
prioritize the friction points.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present disclosure, through one or more of its various
aspects, embodiments, and/or specific features or sub-components,
provides, inter alia, various systems, servers, devices, methods,
media, programs, and platforms for identifying, quantifying,
classifying, and reducing organizational waste in real time.
[0006] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method
for identifying, quantifying, classifying, and reducing
organizational waste in real time is provided. The method is
implemented by at least one processor. The method includes:
receiving, by the at least one processor from a user, a request for
identifying waste in a first software development project;
identifying, by the at least one processor, a plurality of tasks to
be performed within the first software development project;
determining, for each task from among the identified plurality of
tasks by the at least one processor, whether a waste of at least
one resource has occurred; generating, by the at least one
processor, a report that indicates a result of the determining; and
transmitting, by the at least one processor, the generated report
to the user.
[0007] The at least one resource may include at least one from
among a cost, an amount of time spent by a person, and an amount of
effort exerted by the person.
[0008] The at least one resource may include a number of hours
spent by the person on each task.
[0009] The determining may include determining a planned amount of
the at least one resource that is expected to be expended for each
task, and determining an actual amount of the at least one resource
that has been expended.
[0010] When the actual amount of the at least one resource that has
been expended exceeds the planned amount of the at least one
resource that is expected to be expended, the report may include
information indicating a wastage amount that corresponds to a
difference between the actual amount and the planned amount and an
identification of the person that corresponds to the wastage
amount.
[0011] The identifying of the plurality of tasks may include using
an issue tracking tool, such as, for example, Jira, to identify the
plurality of tasks.
[0012] The method may further include using the issue tracking tool
to provide a label for each identified task based on a result of
the determining.
[0013] The method may further include using the issue tracking tool
to provide a label for each identified task for which the waste of
the at least one resource is determined as having occurred.
[0014] The using of the issue tracking tool to provide the label
may include tagging each identified task for which the waste of the
at least one resource is determined as having occurred with a
keyword from among a predetermined plurality of keywords.
[0015] The method may further include identifying at least one
friction point that corresponds to an aspect of the organization
associated with excessive waste based on information included in
the generated report.
[0016] According to another exemplary embodiment, a computing
apparatus for identifying, quantifying, classifying, and reducing
organizational waste in real time is provided. The computing
apparatus includes a processor; a memory; and a communication
interface coupled to each of the processor and the memory. The
processor is configured to: receive, via the communication
interface from a user, a request for identifying waste in a first
software development project; identify a plurality of tasks to be
performed within the first software development project; determine,
for each task from among the identified plurality of tasks, whether
a waste of at least one resource has occurred; generate a report
that indicates a result of the determining; and transmit, via the
communication interface, the generated report to the user.
[0017] The at least one resource may include at least one from
among a cost, an amount of time spent by a person, and an amount of
effort exerted by the person.
[0018] The at least one resource may include a number of hours
spent by the person on each task.
[0019] The processor may be further configured to determine a
planned amount of the at least one resource that is expected to be
expended for each task, and to determine an actual amount of the at
least one resource that has been expended.
[0020] When the actual amount of the at least one resource that has
been expended exceeds the planned amount of the at least one
resource that is expected to be expended, the report may include
information indicating a wastage amount that corresponds to a
difference between the actual amount and the planned amount and an
identification of the person that corresponds to the wastage
amount.
[0021] The processor may be further configured to use an issue
tracking tool, such as, for example, Jira, to identify the
plurality of tasks.
[0022] The processor may be further configured to use the issue
tracking tool to provide a label for each identified task based on
a result of the determining.
[0023] The processor may be further configured to use the issue
tracking tool to provide a label for each identified task for which
the waste of the at least one resource is determined as having
occurred.
[0024] The processor may be further configured to tag each
identified task for which the waste of the at least one resource is
determined as having occurred with a keyword from among a
predetermined plurality of keywords.
[0025] The processor may be further configured to identify at least
one friction point that corresponds to an aspect of the
organization associated with excessive waste based on information
included in the generated report.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The present disclosure is further described in the detailed
description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of
drawings, by way of non-limiting examples of preferred embodiments
of the present disclosure, in which like characters represent like
elements throughout the several views of the drawings.
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary computer system.
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary diagram of a network
environment.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary system for implementing a method
for identifying, quantifying, classifying, and reducing
organizational waste in real time.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary process for
implementing a method for identifying, quantifying, classifying,
and reducing organizational waste in real time.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram of a method for
identifying, quantifying, classifying, and reducing organizational
waste in real time, according to an exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] Through one or more of its various aspects, embodiments
and/or specific features or sub-components of the present
disclosure, are intended to bring out one or more of the advantages
as specifically described above and noted below.
[0033] The examples may also be embodied as one or more
non-transitory computer readable media having instructions stored
thereon for one or more aspects of the present technology as
described and illustrated by way of the examples herein. The
instructions in some examples include executable code that, when
executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to carry
out steps necessary to implement the methods of the examples of
this technology that are described and illustrated herein.
[0034] FIG. 1 is an exemplary system for use in accordance with the
embodiments described herein. The system 100 is generally shown and
may include a computer system 102, which is generally
indicated.
[0035] The computer system 102 may include a set of instructions
that can be executed to cause the computer system 102 to perform
any one or more of the methods or computer-based functions
disclosed herein, either alone or in combination with the other
described devices. The computer system 102 may operate as a
standalone device or may be connected to other systems or
peripheral devices. For example, the computer system 102 may
include, or be included within, any one or more computers, servers,
systems, communication networks or cloud environment. Even further,
the instructions may be operative in such cloud-based computing
environment.
[0036] In a networked deployment, the computer system 102 may
operate in the capacity of a server or as a client user computer in
a server-client user network environment, a client user computer in
a cloud computing environment, or as a peer computer system in a
peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The computer
system 102, or portions thereof, may be implemented as, or
incorporated into, various devices, such as a personal computer, a
tablet computer, a set-top box, a personal digital assistant, a
mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop
computer, a communications device, a wireless smart phone, a
personal trusted device, a wearable device, a global positioning
satellite (GPS) device, a web appliance, or any other machine
capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or
otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine.
Further, while a single computer system 102 is illustrated,
additional embodiments may include any collection of systems or
sub-systems that individually or jointly execute instructions or
perform functions. The term "system" shall be taken throughout the
present disclosure to include any collection of systems or
sub-systems that individually or jointly execute a set, or multiple
sets, of instructions to perform one or more computer
functions.
[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the computer system 102 may
include at least one processor 104. The processor 104 is tangible
and non-transitory. As used herein, the term "non-transitory" is to
be interpreted not as an eternal characteristic of a state, but as
a characteristic of a state that will last for a period of time.
The term "non-transitory" specifically disavows fleeting
characteristics such as characteristics of a particular carrier
wave or signal or other forms that exist only transitorily in any
place at any time. The processor 104 is an article of manufacture
and/or a machine component. The processor 104 is configured to
execute software instructions in order to perform functions as
described in the various embodiments herein. The processor 104 may
be a general-purpose processor or may be part of an application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The processor 104 may also be a
microprocessor, a microcomputer, a processor chip, a controller, a
microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a state machine,
or a programmable logic device. The processor 104 may also be a
logical circuit, including a programmable gate array (PGA) such as
a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or another type of circuit
that includes discrete gate and/or transistor logic. The processor
104 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing
unit (GPU), or both. Additionally, any processor described herein
may include multiple processors, parallel processors, or both.
Multiple processors may be included in, or coupled to, a single
device or multiple devices.
[0038] The computer system 102 may also include a computer memory
106. The computer memory 106 may include a static memory, a dynamic
memory, or both in communication. Memories described herein are
tangible storage mediums that can store data as well as executable
instructions and are non-transitory during the time instructions
are stored therein. Again, as used herein, the term
"non-transitory" is to be interpreted not as an eternal
characteristic of a state, but as a characteristic of a state that
will last for a period of time. The term "non-transitory"
specifically disavows fleeting characteristics such as
characteristics of a particular carrier wave or signal or other
forms that exist only transitorily in any place at any time. The
memories are an article of manufacture and/or machine component.
Memories described herein are computer-readable mediums from which
data and executable instructions can be read by a computer.
Memories as described herein may be random access memory (RAM),
read only memory (ROM), flash memory, electrically programmable
read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable
read-only memory (EEPROM), registers, a hard disk, a cache, a
removable disk, tape, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM),
digital versatile disk (DVD), floppy disk, blu-ray disk, or any
other form of storage medium known in the art. Memories may be
volatile or non-volatile, secure and/or encrypted, unsecure and/or
unencrypted. Of course, the computer memory 106 may comprise any
combination of memories or a single storage.
[0039] The computer system 102 may further include a display 108,
such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting
diode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, a
cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasma display, or any other type of
display, examples of which are well known to skilled persons.
[0040] The computer system 102 may also include at least one input
device 110, such as a keyboard, a touch-sensitive input screen or
pad, a speech input, a mouse, a remote control device having a
wireless keypad, a microphone coupled to a speech recognition
engine, a camera such as a video camera or still camera, a cursor
control device, a global positioning system (GPS) device, an
altimeter, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, or
any combination thereof. Those skilled in the art appreciate that
various embodiments of the computer system 102 may include multiple
input devices 110. Moreover, those skilled in the art further
appreciate that the above-listed, exemplary input devices 110 are
not meant to be exhaustive and that the computer system 102 may
include any additional, or alternative, input devices 110.
[0041] The computer system 102 may also include a medium reader 112
which is configured to read any one or more sets of instructions,
e.g. software, from any of the memories described herein. The
instructions, when executed by a processor, can be used to perform
one or more of the methods and processes as described herein. In a
particular embodiment, the instructions may reside completely, or
at least partially, within the memory 106, the medium reader 112,
and/or the processor 110 during execution by the computer system
102.
[0042] Furthermore, the computer system 102 may include any
additional devices, components, parts, peripherals, hardware,
software or any combination thereof which are commonly known and
understood as being included with or within a computer system, such
as, but not limited to, a network interface 114 and an output
device 116. The output device 116 may be, but is not limited to, a
speaker, an audio out, a video out, a remote-control output, a
printer, or any combination thereof.
[0043] Each of the components of the computer system 102 may be
interconnected and communicate via a bus 118 or other communication
link. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the components may each be
interconnected and communicate via an internal bus. However, those
skilled in the art appreciate that any of the components may also
be connected via an expansion bus. Moreover, the bus 118 may enable
communication via any standard or other specification commonly
known and understood such as, but not limited to, peripheral
component interconnect, peripheral component interconnect express,
parallel advanced technology attachment, serial advanced technology
attachment, etc.
[0044] The computer system 102 may be in communication with one or
more additional computer devices 120 via a network 122. The network
122 may be, but is not limited to, a local area network, a wide
area network, the Internet, a telephony network, a short-range
network, or any other network commonly known and understood in the
art. The short-range network may include, for example, Bluetooth,
Zigbee, infrared, near field communication, ultraband, or any
combination thereof. Those skilled in the art appreciate that
additional networks 122 which are known and understood may
additionally or alternatively be used and that the exemplary
networks 122 are not limiting or exhaustive. Also, while the
network 122 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a wireless network, those
skilled in the art appreciate that the network 122 may also be a
wired network.
[0045] The additional computer device 120 is illustrated in FIG. 1
as a personal computer. However, those skilled in the art
appreciate that, in alternative embodiments of the present
application, the computer device 120 may be a laptop computer, a
tablet PC, a personal digital assistant, a mobile device, a palmtop
computer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wireless
telephone, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a server, or
any other device that is capable of executing a set of
instructions, sequential or otherwise, that specify actions to be
taken by that device. Of course, those skilled in the art
appreciate that the above-listed devices are merely exemplary
devices and that the device 120 may be any additional device or
apparatus commonly known and understood in the art without
departing from the scope of the present application. For example,
the computer device 120 may be the same or similar to the computer
system 102. Furthermore, those skilled in the art similarly
understand that the device may be any combination of devices and
apparatuses.
[0046] Of course, those skilled in the art appreciate that the
above-listed components of the computer system 102 are merely meant
to be exemplary and are not intended to be exhaustive and/or
inclusive. Furthermore, the examples of the components listed above
are also meant to be exemplary and similarly are not meant to be
exhaustive and/or inclusive.
[0047] In accordance with various embodiments of the present
disclosure, the methods described herein may be implemented using a
hardware computer system that executes software programs. Further,
in an exemplary, non-limited embodiment, implementations can
include distributed processing, component/object distributed
processing, and parallel processing. Virtual computer system
processing can be constructed to implement one or more of the
methods or functionalities as described herein, and a processor
described herein may be used to support a virtual processing
environment.
[0048] As described herein, various embodiments provide optimized
methods and systems for identifying, quantifying, classifying, and
reducing organizational waste in real time.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic of an exemplary network
environment 200 for implementing a method for identifying,
quantifying, classifying, and reducing organizational waste in real
time is illustrated. In an exemplary embodiment, the method is
executable on any networked computer platform, such as, for
example, a personal computer (PC).
[0050] The method for identifying, quantifying, classifying, and
reducing organizational waste in real time may be implemented by a
Waste Identification and Quantification (WIQ) device 202. The WIQ
device 202 may be the same or similar to the computer system 102 as
described with respect to FIG. 1. The WIQ device 202 may store one
or more applications that can include executable instructions that,
when executed by the WIQ device 202, cause the WIQ device 202 to
perform actions, such as to transmit, receive, or otherwise process
network messages, for example, and to perform other actions
described and illustrated below with reference to the figures. The
application(s) may be implemented as modules or components of other
applications. Further, the application(s) can be implemented as
operating system extensions, modules, plugins, or the like.
[0051] Even further, the application(s) may be operative in a
cloud-based computing environment. The application(s) may be
executed within or as virtual machine(s) or virtual server(s) that
may be managed in a cloud-based computing environment. Also, the
application(s), and even the WIQ device 202 itself, may be located
in virtual server(s) running in a cloud-based computing environment
rather than being tied to one or more specific physical network
computing devices. Also, the application(s) may be running in one
or more virtual machines (VMs) executing on the WIQ device 202.
Additionally, in one or more embodiments of this technology,
virtual machine(s) running on the WIQ device 202 may be managed or
supervised by a hypervisor.
[0052] In the network environment 200 of FIG. 2, the WIQ device 202
is coupled to a plurality of server devices 204(1)-204(n) that
hosts a plurality of databases 206(1)-206(n), and also to a
plurality of client devices 208(1)-208(n) via communication
network(s) 210. A communication interface of the WIQ device 202,
such as the network interface 114 of the computer system 102 of
FIG. 1, operatively couples and communicates between the WIQ device
202, the server devices 204(1)-204(n), and/or the client devices
208(1)-208(n), which are all coupled together by the communication
network(s) 210, although other types and/or numbers of
communication networks or systems with other types and/or numbers
of connections and/or configurations to other devices and/or
elements may also be used.
[0053] The communication network(s) 210 may be the same or similar
to the network 122 as described with respect to FIG. 1, although
the WIQ device 202, the server devices 204(1)-204(n), and/or the
client devices 208(1)-208(n) may be coupled together via other
topologies. Additionally, the network environment 200 may include
other network devices such as one or more routers and/or switches,
for example, which are well known in the art and thus will not be
described herein. This technology provides a number of advantages
including methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and WIQ
devices that efficiently implement a method for identifying,
quantifying, classifying, and reducing organizational waste in real
time.
[0054] By way of example only, the communication network(s) 210 may
include local area network(s) (LAN(s)) or wide area network(s)
(WAN(s)), and can use TCP/IP over Ethernet and industry-standard
protocols, although other types and/or numbers of protocols and/or
communication networks may be used. The communication network(s)
210 in this example may employ any suitable interface mechanisms
and network communication technologies including, for example,
teletraffic in any suitable form (e.g., voice, modem, and the
like), Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTNs), Ethernet-based
Packet Data Networks (PDNs), combinations thereof, and the
like.
[0055] The WIQ device 202 may be a standalone device or integrated
with one or more other devices or apparatuses, such as one or more
of the server devices 204(1)-204(n), for example. In one particular
example, the WIQ device 202 may include or be hosted by one of the
server devices 204(1)-204(n), and other arrangements are also
possible. Moreover, one or more of the devices of the WIQ device
202 may be in a same or a different communication network including
one or more public, private, or cloud networks, for example.
[0056] The plurality of server devices 204(1)-204(n) may be the
same or similar to the computer system 102 or the computer device
120 as described with respect to FIG. 1, including any features or
combination of features described with respect thereto. For
example, any of the server devices 204(1)-204(n) may include, among
other features, one or more processors, a memory, and a
communication interface, which are coupled together by a bus or
other communication link, although other numbers and/or types of
network devices may be used. The server devices 204(1)-204(n) in
this example may process requests received from the WIQ device 202
via the communication network(s) 210 according to the HTTP-based
and/or JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) protocol, for example,
although other protocols may also be used.
[0057] The server devices 204(1)-204(n) may be hardware or software
or may represent a system with multiple servers in a pool, which
may include internal or external networks. The server devices
204(1)-204(n) hosts the databases 206(1)-206(n) that are configured
to store data that relates to software development project
management and data that relates to personnel and operational
issues in connection with the software development lifecycle.
[0058] Although the server devices 204(1)-204(n) are illustrated as
single devices, one or more actions of each of the server devices
204(1)-204(n) may be distributed across one or more distinct
network computing devices that together comprise one or more of the
server devices 204(1)-204(n). Moreover, the server devices
204(1)-204(n) are not limited to a particular configuration. Thus,
the server devices 204(1)-204(n) may contain a plurality of network
computing devices that operate using a master/slave approach,
whereby one of the network computing devices of the server devices
204(1)-204(n) operates to manage and/or otherwise coordinate
operations of the other network computing devices.
[0059] The server devices 204(1)-204(n) may operate as a plurality
of network computing devices within a cluster architecture, a
peer-to peer architecture, virtual machines, or within a cloud
architecture, for example. Thus, the technology disclosed herein is
not to be construed as being limited to a single environment and
other configurations and architectures are also envisaged.
[0060] The plurality of client devices 208(1)-208(n) may also be
the same or similar to the computer system 102 or the computer
device 120 as described with respect to FIG. 1, including any
features or combination of features described with respect thereto.
For example, the client devices 208(1)-208(n) in this example may
include any type of computing device that can interact with the WIQ
device 202 via communication network(s) 210. Accordingly, the
client devices 208(1)-208(n) may be mobile computing devices,
desktop computing devices, laptop computing devices, tablet
computing devices, virtual machines (including cloud-based
computers), or the like, that host chat, e-mail, or voice-to-text
applications, for example. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one
client device 208 is a wireless mobile communication device, i.e.,
a smart phone.
[0061] The client devices 208(1)-208(n) may run interface
applications, such as standard web browsers or standalone client
applications, which may provide an interface to communicate with
the WIQ device 202 via the communication network(s) 210 in order to
communicate user requests and information. The client devices
208(1)-208(n) may further include, among other features, a display
device, such as a display screen or touchscreen, and/or an input
device, such as a keyboard, for example.
[0062] Although the exemplary network environment 200 with the WIQ
device 202, the server devices 204(1)-204(n), the client devices
208(1)-208(n), and the communication network(s) 210 are described
and illustrated herein, other types and/or numbers of systems,
devices, components, and/or elements in other topologies may be
used. It is to be understood that the systems of the examples
described herein are for exemplary purposes, as many variations of
the specific hardware and software used to implement the examples
are possible, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the
relevant art(s).
[0063] One or more of the devices depicted in the network
environment 200, such as the WIQ device 202, the server devices
204(1)-204(n), or the client devices 208(1)-208(n), for example,
may be configured to operate as virtual instances on the same
physical machine. In other words, one or more of the WIQ device
202, the server devices 204(1)-204(n), or the client devices
208(1)-208(n) may operate on the same physical device rather than
as separate devices communicating through communication network(s)
210. Additionally, there may be more or fewer WIQ devices 202,
server devices 204(1)-204(n), or client devices 208(1)-208(n) than
illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0064] In addition, two or more computing systems or devices may be
substituted for any one of the systems or devices in any example.
Accordingly, principles and advantages of distributed processing,
such as redundancy and replication also may be implemented, as
desired, to increase the robustness and performance of the devices
and systems of the examples. The examples may also be implemented
on computer system(s) that extend across any suitable network using
any suitable interface mechanisms and traffic technologies,
including by way of example only teletraffic in any suitable form
(e.g., voice and modem), wireless traffic networks, cellular
traffic networks, Packet Data Networks (PDNs), the Internet,
intranets, and combinations thereof.
[0065] The WIQ device 202 is described and illustrated in FIG. 3 as
including a waste identification and classification module 302,
although it may include other rules, policies, modules, databases,
or applications, for example. As will be described below, the waste
identification and classification module 302 is configured to
implement a method for identifying, quantifying, classifying, and
reducing organizational waste in real time.
[0066] An exemplary process 300 for implementing a mechanism for
identifying, quantifying, classifying, and reducing organizational
waste in real time by utilizing the network environment of FIG. 2
is illustrated as being executed in FIG. 3. Specifically, a first
client device 208(1) and a second client device 208(2) are
illustrated as being in communication with WIQ device 202. In this
regard, the first client device 208(1) and the second client device
208(2) may be "clients" of the WIQ device 202 and are described
herein as such. Nevertheless, it is to be known and understood that
the first client device 208(1) and/or the second client device
208(2) need not necessarily be "clients" of the WIQ device 202, or
any entity described in association therewith herein. Any
additional or alternative relationship may exist between either or
both of the first client device 208(1) and the second client device
208(2) and the WIQ device 202, or no relationship may exist.
[0067] Further, WIQ device 202 is illustrated as being able to
access a historical software development project management data
repository 206(1) and a personnel and operational issues database
206(2). The waste identification and classification module 302 may
be configured to access these databases for implementing a method
for identifying, quantifying, classifying, and reducing
organizational waste in real time.
[0068] The first client device 208(1) may be, for example, a smart
phone. Of course, the first client device 208(1) may be any
additional device described herein. The second client device 208(2)
may be, for example, a personal computer (PC). Of course, the
second client device 208(2) may also be any additional device
described herein.
[0069] The process may be executed via the communication network(s)
210, which may comprise plural networks as described above. For
example, in an exemplary embodiment, either or both of the first
client device 208(1) and the second client device 208(2) may
communicate with the WIQ device 202 via broadband or cellular
communication. Of course, these embodiments are merely exemplary
and are not limiting or exhaustive.
[0070] Upon being started, the waste identification and
classification module 302 executes a process for identifying,
quantifying, classifying, and reducing organizational waste in real
time. An exemplary process for identifying, quantifying,
classifying, and reducing organizational waste in real time is
generally indicated at flowchart 400 in FIG. 4.
[0071] In process 400 of FIG. 4, at step S402, the waste
identification and classification module 302 receives a user
request to identify, quantify, and classify waste in the context of
a software development project. Then, at step S404, the waste
identification and classification module 302 identifies a plurality
of tasks to be performed within the software development project.
In an exemplary embodiment, the identification of the tasks may be
performed by using an issue tracking tool, such as, for example,
Jira, which is a widely used software application used for issue
tracking and project management.
[0072] At step S406, the waste identification and classification
module 302 determines, for each task, whether a waste of resources
has occurred. In an exemplary embodiment, the resources may include
any one or more of a cost, an amount of time spent by a person,
such as an engineer who is working on the software development
project, and/or an amount of effort expended by the person. For
example, for Project X, there may be three tasks: Task A, Task B,
and Task C; and Engineer Z may have been assigned to work on Task A
and Task C. In this scenario, the waste identification and
classification module 302 may determine that the planned amount of
time expected to be expended by Engineer Z on Task A was H hours
and that the actual amount of time spent by Engineer Z on Task A
was H+2.5 hours, and that the planned amount of time expected to be
expended by Engineer Z on Task C was J hours and the actual amount
of time spent by Engineer Z on Task C was J+0.8 hours. As a result,
the waste identification and classification module 302 would
determine that for Task A, there are 2.5 man-hours of waste that
are associated with Engineer Z, and for Task C, there are 0.8
man-hours of waste that are associated with Engineer Z.
[0073] At step S408, the waste identification and classification
module 302 uses the issue tracking tool (e.g., Jira) to provide a
label, also referred to herein as a tag, to at least some of the
tasks. In an exemplary embodiment, the tag may include alphanumeric
text, symbols, and/or codes to convey information that corresponds
to the determinations made in step S406. In this aspect, when using
Jira, a predefined set of keywords and codes may be used in tagging
each task. For example, a tag may have a predetermined data
structure that includes a category field, a sub-category field, and
a number of wasted hours field, and the waste identification and
classification module 302 may select entries for each field from a
predefined set of keywords, codes, and symbols.
[0074] In an exemplary embodiment, a tag may be provided only for
tasks that have been determined as having an associated waste of
resources, and tasks for which no waste has been identified may not
be tagged. Alternatively, a tag may be provided for all tasks
identified as being within the software development project,
regardless of whether any corresponding waste has been
identified.
[0075] At step S410, the waste identification and classification
module 302 generates a resource wastage report. In an exemplary
embodiment, the resource wastage report includes information that
identifies amounts of various resources that have been wasted for
each task in the project. The resource wastage report is then
transmitted to the user that submitted the request in step
S402.
[0076] At step S412, the waste identification and classification
module 302 uses the results of the waste identification,
quantification, and classification process to identify
organizational friction points. In an exemplary embodiment, the
waste identification and classification module 302 may use
information included in the resource wastage report in conjunction
with historical information that is stored in the historical
software development project management data repository 206(1) to
analyze patterns of data in order to identify individual persons
and/or groups within the organization that are associated with
identified resource wastages.
[0077] FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram 500 of a method for
identifying, quantifying, classifying, and reducing organizational
waste in real time by using Jira, according to an exemplary
embodiment. As illustrated in the process flow diagram 500, in a
first stage, a software development project is depicted as a set of
Jira stories, and each Jira story is tagged with a label that
provides data indicating resource waste that has been identified
and quantified. In a second stage, the data is extracted from the
labels and classified. In a third stage, the data is analyzed in
order to visualize the dimensions of friction points within the
organization. In a fourth stage, the identified wastages and
friction points are used to prioritize issues to be addressed and
potential solutions to be applied within the organization, in order
to reduce future resource waste and to enhance engineer
experience.
[0078] Accordingly, with this technology, an optimized process for
identifying, quantifying, classifying, and reducing organizational
waste in real time is provided.
[0079] Although the invention has been described with reference to
several exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words that
have been used are words of description and illustration, rather
than words of limitation. Changes may be made within the purview of
the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure in
its aspects. Although the invention has been described with
reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the
invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars
disclosed; rather the invention extends to all functionally
equivalent structures, methods, and uses such as are within the
scope of the appended claims.
[0080] For example, while the computer-readable medium may be
described as a single medium, the term "computer-readable medium"
includes a single medium or multiple media, such as a centralized
or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers that
store one or more sets of instructions. The term "computer-readable
medium" shall also include any medium that is capable of storing,
encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a
processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or
more of the embodiments disclosed herein.
[0081] The computer-readable medium may comprise a non-transitory
computer-readable medium or media and/or comprise a transitory
computer-readable medium or media. In a particular non-limiting,
exemplary embodiment, the computer-readable medium can include a
solid-state memory such as a memory card or other package that
houses one or more non-volatile read-only memories. Further, the
computer-readable medium can be a random-access memory or other
volatile re-writable memory. Additionally, the computer-readable
medium can include a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a
disk or tapes or other storage device to capture carrier wave
signals such as a signal communicated over a transmission medium.
Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any
computer-readable medium or other equivalents and successor media,
in which data or instructions may be stored.
[0082] Although the present application describes specific
embodiments which may be implemented as computer programs or code
segments in computer-readable media, it is to be understood that
dedicated hardware implementations, such as application specific
integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware
devices, can be constructed to implement one or more of the
embodiments described herein. Applications that may include the
various embodiments set forth herein may broadly include a variety
of electronic and computer systems. Accordingly, the present
application may encompass software, firmware, and hardware
implementations, or combinations thereof. Nothing in the present
application should be interpreted as being implemented or
implementable solely with software and not hardware.
[0083] Although the present specification describes components and
functions that may be implemented in particular embodiments with
reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is
not limited to such standards and protocols. Such standards are
periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents
having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement
standards and protocols having the same or similar functions are
considered equivalents thereof.
[0084] The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are
intended to provide a general understanding of the various
embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a
complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus
and systems that utilize the structures or methods described
herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in
the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be
utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and
logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing
from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations
are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain
proportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while
other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, the disclosure and
the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than
restrictive.
[0085] One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to
herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term "invention"
merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit
the scope of this application to any particular invention or
inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have
been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated
that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or
similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments
shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent
adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of
the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically
described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art
upon reviewing the description.
[0086] The Abstract of the Disclosure is submitted with the
understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the
scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing
Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together or
described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining
the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as
reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more
features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the
following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed
to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed
embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the
Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as
defining separately claimed subject matter.
[0087] The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered
illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are
intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other
embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the
present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the
scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by the broadest
permissible interpretation of the following claims, and their
equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the
foregoing detailed description.
* * * * *